This is a discovery of great importance, both for the study of this type of site, which seems to appear in the Eastern Mediterranean in the late sixth century B.C.; and for the history of Beirut. I have been studying this type of site since the 1960s: I am therefore excited by this discovery, and I am concerned that the site must be preserved.

There is no doubt about its identification as slipways and not simply quarries. [I have not seen the site, but the reports are clear and convincing]. Only one parallel has been found on the coast of the Levant, at Dor; a number of rock-cut slipways have, however, been found in the Greek world, and Dr Kalliopi Baika is the specialist on this special type of site. She has been a member of our team which is completing a study of “Shipsheds of the Ancient Mediterranean” which will be published by Cambridge University Press in 2012/13.

One important, and almost unique, feature of the newly discovered site at Beirut is that it can be dated, since the dated levels of later use of the site in the 5th century B.C. provide a terminus ante quem. This is rarely the case with rock-cut slipways [Dor cannot be dated more precisely than 5th-4th century]. This opens the exciting possibility of Phoenician origin: this is important for those of us who study the origins of this archaeological feature, and equally important for those who study the history of Beirut and of Lebanon. The role of the Phoenicians in the development of harbour engineering in the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age has been a much debated subject.

The wells cut in the rock are an equally interesting feature, confirming the use of the site for shipbuilding or ship repair; it is rare to have such evidence.

The position of the site, in its context, with evidence of gradient, of shipbuilding or ship repair activity, and of a clear relationship with the sea, is important for its valorisation. The proposal to displace it would destroy its context and thereby much of its value. The original proposal, on the other hand, seems to me excellent; it becomes an important monument for the maritime history of Beirut and Lebanon. I hope that UNESCO will recognise its importance.

I would like, from my part, to stress the importance of the maritime structures that were discovered in Beirut.

I have been studying Mediterranean shipsheds since 1996 (PhD on Shipsheds in the Mediterranean), working on the subject with David Blackman and specialists in UK and I have been surveying rock-cut slipways in the Aegean from 2004. In my experience, the site in Beirut is undoubtedly exceptional. The fact that shipyard installations have also come to light adds to the rarity of the finds. The excavation site is even more important as the slipways and maritime installations unearthed were found in a well-dated context, which is rare for harbourworks of this kind. In case it is decided to destroy the site and ‘move’ the slipways, all this rich archaeological context will disappear.

Moreover, it does not seem wise to move maritime structures, as they will immediately lose their original connection to the sea and their special architectural features (inclination towards the sea), their value as archaeological indicators of relative sea-level change and their prime importance as harbourworks.

In my opinion, this is an excellent opportunity to preserve and put in value this rich maritime cultural heritage by creating an archaeological park, much appreciated by the Lebanese people, as well as the international academic community.

I hope we will all have the chance to come and visit and study the site in the future